Last piece in town regeneration ‘jigsaw’ set for the go-ahead

Councillors are today set to agree planning permission for a development described as the “final piece in the jigsaw” of the £15m regeneration of Penistone, which has already seen a new Tesco supermarket, a market hall, fire and ambulance depots, council offices and a bowling green built.

Barnsley-based developer Dransfield Properties has submitted plans to build a two-storey development on St Mary’s Street, with six shops or cafes on the ground floor and 21 “starter offices” above.

The planning application was originally meant to be decided by Barnsley Council last month, but was postponed until a committee meeting today to “allow the opportunity for alternative accesses to be looked at.”

At September’s planning committee meeting, members said that they were concerned that the proposed access via Back Lane could be dangerous for both pedestrians and motorists.

Planning officers have now considered other options, including accessing the site from the Tesco access road or from the east of the site from St Mary’s Street.

However, the planning officials have now said that Back Lane is the “only viable option.”

In the report which is set to go before today’s committee meeting, town planners say: “We feel that this is the only viable option and that a solution to the Bank Lane access can be found, and work successfully to provide Penistone with the final phase of development and regeneration of the town.”

So far, 26 letters of support have been submitted in relation to the proposed scheme, with members of the public claiming the development will “attract more small businesses to Penistone”, will “enhance the town centre and bring more people into Penistone”, and will provide jobs.

However, others, including Penistone Town Council, are opposing the plans, saying the scheme would constitute “overdevelopment” of the site and the proposed access is “totally inappropriate.”

David Hale, development surveyor at Dransfield Properties, said: “This is the final piece of the jigsaw of the town centre regeneration in Penistone.

“We have consulted widely in the town to deliver an attractive development that will enhance this important site and bring new businesses and job opportunities.

“We have already had a good deal of interest from businesses in the area and, if the plans are approved by members today, we would hope to be on site in the early part of next year.”

Land for this latest development was originally earmarked for a block of sheltered flats, but these plans were turned down by Barnsley Council twice in 2007.

In their report, the town planners say the latest proposal has “significant merit for the improvement of this ‘gateway’ site into Penistone town centre.”

They add: “The design is well-thought, and would significantly enhance the Penistone conservation area.

“Whilst the proposal is accessed off Back Lane, the additional vehicles generated by the development will be of low numbers and strictly controlled.

“Other accesses have been considered and have been ruled out as unfeasible.

“Back Lane is currently a shared space for pedestrians and vehicles and it is considered that the additional vehicles for the development can be accommodated on the highway without detriment to highway safety.”

A final decision on the plans will be made at today’s meeting, which begins at Barnsley Central Library at 2pm.

Meanwhile, retail giant Tesco has now been officially named as the company that will provide a new supermarket at Stocksbridge, which is also the site of a huge Dransfield Properties regeneration project.